Your data

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 5 April 2026. This policy explains what personal information SharpenMind collects, why we collect it, how it is stored, and how you can reach us about it.

Information we collect

  • Your email address, which is the only detail needed to create an account.
  • Your display name, optional biography, areas of interest, and profile photo URL if you add them.
  • The essays, discussion topics, replies, and comments you choose to publish.
  • The email address you enter to receive the Sunday letter, if you subscribe.
  • Basic technical information such as the pages you visit, collected to keep the site secure and working.

How we use your information

  • To create and secure your account and to send a one-time code when you sign in.
  • To publish and display your essays, discussions, and comments to other visitors.
  • To keep conversations respectful through our reporting and moderation tools.
  • To send the weekly Sunday letter you asked for, and nothing else.
  • To understand which ideas and pages readers find useful so we can improve the site.

How your information is stored

  • Your account and contributions are stored in the site database, protected by access controls and encrypted connections.
  • We never store a password — sign-in codes are sent by email and expire after ten minutes.
  • A small token is kept in your own browser so you stay signed in; clearing it logs you out.
  • We keep your information while your account is active and remove it when you ask us to.

Sharing your information

  • We do not sell your personal information, ever.
  • We only share data with the service providers needed to run the site, such as email delivery and hosting.
  • We may disclose information if the law clearly requires it.

Your choices and rights

  • You can edit your display name, biography, and interests at any time from your account page.
  • You can ask us to access, correct, export, or delete the information we hold about you.
  • You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by asking us or using the link in any edition.

Children and changes

  • SharpenMind is intended for people aged 16 and over, and we do not knowingly collect data from children.
  • If we update this policy we will change the date below and describe what changed.

Contact us about your data

Ask us to access, correct, export, or delete the information we hold about you. We reply by email, usually within a few days.